The Best of Britain Student Tour
Explore Britain’s literary history from Edinburgh to London. Visit iconic sites like Edinburgh Castle, Shakespeare’s birthplace, the British Museum, and more.
The Best of Britain from Edinburgh to London
Embark on a literary student tour from Edinburgh to London, where students explore iconic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, Shakespeare’s birthplace, and Westminster Abbey. Visit Alnwick Castle, Durham Cathedral, and the British Museum, learning about Britain’s rich history and literary heritage. Enjoy theater performances, historic walking tours, and more, as you delve into the world of British literature, culture, and tradition.
Itinerary
The itinerary featured here is intended to give you inspiration and an idea of what you could do on your tour. Your trip will be created individually by one of our educational travel advisors to match your requirements and budget.
Day 1
Flight to Edinburgh:
Flight to Edinburgh: Today you depart on your overnight flight to Edinburgh in Scotland.
Day 2
Arrival in Edinburgh. The Royal Mile Walking Tour and Calton Hill
Arrival in Edinburgh: You will be met by your tour manager and private bus and transfer to your hotel.
The Royal Mile: After lunch we take one of the most famous city walks in Europe along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Monarch in Scotland.
Calton Hill: We walk up Calton Hill for the iconic panoramic view across the city.
The Elephant House: In the afternoon have a coffee at the Elephant House café. Opened in 1995 it was made famous as the place of inspiration for JK Rowling who sat in the back room writing her early Harry Potter novels overlooking Edinburgh Castle.
Evening: Dinner this evening will be at a city restaurant.
Day 3
Edinburgh Castle, Free Time and Traditional Haggis Dinner
Edinburgh Castle: This morning you visit Edinburgh Castle, a place filled with history dating back to the twelfth century. The castle has connections to many key events in Scottish history and you will see the Great Hall as well as the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Free Time: This afternoon you will have free time to explore Edinburgh.
Traditional Haggis Dinner: Dinner this evening will be in a traditional Scottish restaurant where you will be able to sample Haggis.
Day 4
Alnick Castle and Durham Cathedral then travel to York
Alnick Castle: This morning you drive south to England and visit Alnick Castle, built over 900 years ago soon after the Norman Conquest. The castle has been used as a set in a number of films, most memorably the Harry Potter series.
Durham: You continue to the city of Durham with its own castle where you explore the historic Cathedral dating back to the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Travel to York: Your journey continues to York with a history that encompasses both the Roman conquest and Viking occupation.
Day 5
York historical walking tour, Jorvik Viking Center and evening Ghost Walk
York Walking Tour: This morning you enjoy a walking tour of historic York which will include the famous York Minster, the thirteenth century city walls and the picturesque Shambles with its half-timbered Tudor buildings.
Jorvik Center: After lunch you visit the Jorvik Center, a museum which depicts life when the Vikings ruled this part of Britain over 1000 years ago. Time Cars take visitors on a journey back to medieval times with the sights, sounds and smells as they might be imagined in 948 AD.
Ghost Walk: This evening after dinner we will enjoy a chilling Ghost Walk to discover the spooky and supernatural in York’s most haunted locations.
Day 6
Warwick Castle. Travel to Stratford on Avon where you see a Shakespeare Play
Warwick Castle: This morning you travel to Warwick, with its historic Tudor houses. Warwick also has one of the finest Castles in Britain and there are often medieval jousting re-enactments to watch, and the opportunity to dress in period costume.
Travel to Stratford-on-Avon: Stratford is one of England’s most historic towns dating back to the Roman period although much of the history we see today is focused on the Tudor period in the late sixteenth century when it was the home of William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare play: Dinner is at a city center restaurant after which we see a Shakespeare play at the Royal Shakespeare Theater.
Day 7
Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway's cottage. Travel to Oxford and walking tour of the University Colleges.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace: Your first visit this morning is to Shakespeare’s birthplace where he spent the first 24 years of his life. This is a traditional half-timbered house that offers a tantalizing glimpse into Shakespeare’s early life, preserved to reflect normal family life in the sixteenth century.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage: You continue to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. This beautiful sixteenth century cottage was the early home of Shakespeare’s future wife and provides a unique insight into family life in Shakespearean times. You will see original furniture including the Hathaway bed and uncover five centuries of stories of the thirteen generations of family who lived here in this picturesque cottage.
Travel to Oxford: After lunch you travel to Oxford, the city of Dreaming Spires, a moniker coined by the English poet and essayist Matthew Arnold.
Walking Tour of Oxford: In the afternoon you have a walking tour of Oxford to see some of its most famous colleges including Christ Church.
Day 8
Bath, Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and the Round Table of Arthurian Legend
Travel to Bath: This morning you travel to Bath. This was an important city in Roman times and indeed the famous baths which give the city its name were actually built by the Romans.
The Roman Baths: You visit the actual Roman Baths where you walk on the original Roman pavement.
Stonehenge: After lunch you travel to Stonehenge, the famous standing stones that are over 5000 year old.
Salisbury Cathedral: You continue to the city of Salisbury where you visit the Cathedral which has the tallest spire in Britain. Here you can see four of the original texts of the Magna Carta.
Winchester: At Winchester you visit the medieval hall which was once part of Winchester Castle and dates to 1067. Dominating the Great Hall is the iconic Round Table said to be linked to the legends of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Day 9
Henry VIII's Palace of Hampton Court. Travel to London and walking tour of the West End
Hampton Court: This morning you visit Hampton Court Palace, the country home of Henry VIII situated adjacent to the River Thames. The Palace is remarkably well preserved, particularly the kitchens and there are often re-enactments in period costume.
The Maze: Hampton Court has a famous maze which you can get lost in or try to escape!
Travel to London: After lunch you travel into central London and your hotel accommodation.
Walking Tour: In the afternoon there will be a walking tour which takes in some of the most famous sites in the city including Leicester Square, China Town, Piccadilly Circus and Carnaby Street. This is the hub of London’s entertainment and nightlife and is always buzzing.
Dinner in Covent Garden: There will be time to explore the Covent Garden area with its vibrant market and lively street entertainment before dinner at a restaurant.
Day 10
Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Evening theater visit.
Buckingham Palace: This morning you visit Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen. The official tours vary in access and can be customized to include the principal State Rooms, the Queen’s Gallery and the Palace Gardens.
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben: After time for lunch, you walk down Whitehall to see 10 Downing Street, where British Prime Ministers traditionally live. At the end of Whitehall, you see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
Westminster Abbey: You explore the historic Abbey, the traditional site of coronation for British monarchs since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066. Notable burials include Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking. In Poets Corner there are memorials to Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters and other literary greats.
Theater Visit: After dinner this evening, you attend a theater performance in London’s ‘West End’, the equivalent of Broadway.
Day 11
British Museum, Tower of London, Thames Riverboat Trip and the London Eye
British Museum: This morning you visit the British Museum to see its famous collection of antiquities including the Elgin Marbles which were originally on the Pantheon in Athens, and its collection of Egyptian mummies.
Borough Market: You walk across Tower Bridge, the famous bridge that can open like a drawbridge to let passing ships through. Visit Borough Market for lunch. This is one of the most famous and traditional of the old covered London markets and during the day its varied food stalls provide a fantastic choice of food and drink.
Tower of London: The Tower is one of London’s most famous landmarks and over the centuries many famous people have been imprisoned and even executed here, among them Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. The British Royal Crown Jewels can also be seen during our tour.
Thames Riverboat Trip: This afternoon you take a trip on the River Thames traveling from The Tower to the South Bank.
The London Eye: This is a lively part of the city and there is often lots of street entertainment and food stalls. A trip on the London Eye is the perfect way to end the day, with a birds-eye view across the city.
Farewell Fish and Chips Dinner: This evening you have a traditional British dinner of fish and chips at a city center restaurant.
Day 12
Fly Home:
Flight Home: This morning you transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
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